Love Bomb 2013: Ayten Gasson

 It's that time of the year again, and after last year's successful Love Bomb, we are doing it all again!

The Love Bomb is a celebration of independent lingerie and swimwear designers in the run up to Valentine's Day. Each of the brands taking part in the Love Bomb is run by a handful of people (and in some cases, even one!), standing up against the mega-corporations to bring you innovative, quirky and unique knickers!  

Unlike the big spenders we are in this game for the knickers – like you, we can’t get enough of them! Many a day is spent lusting after other brands’ lacy wonders and structured glories, so we thought what better way to encourage support for indie lingerie than to gather together for a big, sloppy Valentine’s love bomb!

Each day, one independent lingerie brand will be offering a giveaway or competition, while the other 7 brands will be shouting a lot about it! We even put together a sumptuous photoshoot for it, which will accompany the Love In!

(Photography by Anna Swiczeniuk, Model Miss Miranda, Gown by Ayten Gasson)

Day 6: Ayten Gasson 

Ayten Gasson are giving one lucky winner the nightdress shown in the lovebomb photoshoot and its matching knicker.

To enter....

Twitter: Retweet @AytenGasson's #LoveBomb tweets or create your own
Facebook: Like Ayten Gasson on facebook or if you are already a fan you can post on their wall to get your name on the list!
Pinterest: Repin their #LoveBomb images

Do all three to increase your chances.

The winner will be randomly chosen on Valentine's day! 

Lady Unmentionable: Where to find slips

Can you recommend any places to buy slips, I too suffer from the garter belt showing slightly through clothes ? X

- Lorraine (Via the Playful Promises Facebook)

For those not in the know, a slip is an undergarment worn between lingerie and clothing, helping clothing hang more smoothly, creating a desirable shape. The slip offers many benefits such as preventing certain fabrics irritating the skin, protecting finer fabrics from perspiration and also offering warmth to the wearer.

In the 1920’s slips were introduced as an alternative to corsets, fitting in with the looser fashion of the time as well as freeing up metal to be used for the production of essentials for World War l. Obviously the slip isn’t getting as much praise as it deserves; not only did it allow women a new form of freedom, but helped the war effort!

As Lorraine has mentioned, wearing a slip does wonders for smoothing down what I call "garter bumps" when wearing tight-fitting clothing. Not only that but it's a sexy little piece of lingerie in itself!

Playful Promises currently offers a few slips on sale, including gorgeous silk chemises in jade and lilac, which both come with matching panties. If you'd also like a little bit of a quirky update to the traditional slip, why not go for the Lyla Playsuit in Black or Blush?

If that doesn't tickle your fancy, slips and teddies are available from a variety of retailers on the internet, some of our favourites include Kiss Me Deadly and Ayten Gasson!

Also, if you happen to be popping by the Playful Promises Boxpark boutique make sure you also visit Brick Lane with its cute vintage shops and grab yourself an authentically vintage bargain!

Sultry Sleepwear

Does the word “pyjama” conjure up images of neck-to-toe flannel nightmares and bananas (even the two combined)? Blue and white stripes and pink bunny rabbits?

Sleepwear has been dominated by these monstrosities for far too long; we have somehow headed backwards in taste, from the glamorous slips and feathered robes of the 1920s to the hellish items known as “onesies”. There is a time and a place for adults in pyjamas and the 21st century is not it! Thankfully, we are not the only ones under this impression, as sales for feminine, classic nightwear has grown once again.

The chemise appears to be one of the oldest forms of sleep wear. Dating back to the Middle Ages (when surviving past birth tended to be more important than fashion), the chemise was a smock-like garment worn by both sexes underneath clothing to protect it from bodily sweat. This was the only piece of clothing washed regularly (yuck) and also what was used for sleeping.

It was only during the Victorian era that sensuous, attractive nightwear was introduced, and as with many new items of the time, these were something only the affluent could acquire. To own a sweeping floor-length gown was considered a luxury.

At the turn of the century, fashion once again began to change. Corsets were loosened, skirts were shortened and negligees appeared as a reflection of the flapper dresses of the 1920s. However, just when women were gifted with these lacy, silky dreams, the first and second World Wars broke out and the idea of such opulent items became preposterous.

When one thinks of classic vintage sleepwear, the figure-hugging slips and built-in bullet-bras of the 1950s come to mind. It is these archetypal designs that have endured, which always find themselves back on trend. Lingerie has seen a vintage revival, and sleepwear is no exception. When searching for vintage nightwear, it is often difficult to find anything but average, fit for purpose items that were designed for durability rather than titillation. Understanding their customers’ frustration, many brands have worked on their own styles of vintage inspired sleepwear that allows comfort without losing any impact.

Playful Promises has reworked a classic sleepwear staple for our newest collection. Our Lyla playsuits are a quirky twist on the timeless chemise, mimicking the dress-like shape with comfy built-in shorts. All that’s left is to choose your colour: sultry black or mischievous pink?